Blues Boss Maresca Rejects Man City Speculation as Pure Rumour

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled recent reports linking him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The 45-year-old, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, addressed the ongoing rumours surrounding his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in June 2024, has a contract running until 2029, with a possible extra year available.

"It doesn't bother me at all because I know that is completely unfounded," Maresca said. "And at this moment, there is little room for these kind of things."

He went on to explain, Primarily, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my attention, I said many times, is just about this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's speculation. One week ago I was connected to a role in Italy with Juventus. So I ignore it because I know that is not true."

Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the Premier League, are set to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.

Strain Following Previous Remarks

Maresca's most recent comments follow after he described a recent 48-hour period as his most difficult since arriving at Chelsea.

Those original words had fueled considerable talk of a potential disagreement between the manager and the club's key decision-makers.

When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club's leadership, Maresca replied, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about different things. But about the Everton press conference, no."

The Italian however affirmed he would "absolutely" stay at the club next season and urged the fans to "continue to support the team".

In brighter news, Maresca revealed that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, potentially in contention for a match against Aston Villa later this month.

Perspective: Unresolved Tension

The perceived disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an open wound that still cause concern.

While there has been no further escalation of the situation publicly, there has equally been no apology forthcoming, creating the matter unresolved.

The mood during the manager's press conferences has become increasingly strained, raising concerns it could impact what has otherwise been a decent start to the season.

Chelsea's sporting position is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the Carabao Cup last four, and can secure a better Champions League position with strong results in their final matches.

The lingering question is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might eventually affect a squad that was just starting to look cohesive.